The good news is that life rafts have come a long way since the small rubber crafts of days gone by. Modern life rafts have tall walls, covers, paddles, insulated flooring, bailing buckets, ladders and a variety of emergency items -- flares, water pouches, signaling mirrors, reflective tape and fishing kits. A good life raft isn't cheap, with a deluxe four-person model costing about $4,000 in today's market.

Life rafts are packed by the manufacturer and require regular servicing to ensure their usability. Unfortunately, even the most expensive life rafts aren't always leak-proof. The ocean is tough on a small vessel, and you may end up with water coming into your safe haven. All modern rafts come with pumps and repair kits for this reason. You'll also make good use of your bailer to help empty your raft of water.

One of the most challenging aspects of being lost at sea is the psychological toll it takes. To look around and see nothing but open water can cause a great deal of mental distress. Additional anguish comes when you see passing boats and planes, or come close to land before drifting away. If you're with someone else, occupy yourself by playing word games or talking about future plans.

Heatstroke is another cause for concern. If your raft has a cover, stay under it during the day. Some symptoms of heatstroke are:

Drifting is your only hope for finding dry land, so the more you drift, the better your chances. Most life rafts are equipped with sea anchors that help stabilize the vessel. While a stable raft is a good thing, the anchor will slow your drifting rate. Try pulling up the anchor during periods of calm weather and drop it back in when the winds pick up. At a rate of two knots, you can drift as far as 50 miles per day -- in calm weather you can bob in place for hours.

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In the next section, we'll look at what to do once you've reached land.

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Shipwreck Survival Stories The Robertsons

In 1972, 18 months into an around-the-world voyage, a Scottish family of six found themselves sinking fast after killer whales slammed into their boat. The family and one crew member boarded a life raft and dinghy and spent the next five-and-a-half weeks drifting at sea.

With minimal food, they lived off flying fish, sea turtles and rainwater. Once the raft disintegrated, they boarded the dinghy and used the raft as shelter from the elements. The dinghy had a series of leaks, and the group had to bail water constantly to keep from sinking. To pass the time, they talked about opening a café when they were rescued and even planned the menu.

After 40 days adrift, they spotted a Japanese fishing boat and used their final flare to signal for rescue. The 1992 TV movie "Survive the Savage S­ea" tells their story [source: Sunday Herald].